Smith says sovereignty referendum provides 'outlet' to avoid creation of new party

Lisa Johnson · The Canadian Press

· Posted: May 08, 2025 3:37 PM EDT | Last Updated: 14 minutes ago

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she's consenting to hazard a separation referendum successful portion to avert the emergence of a governmental rival.

Smith says she doesn't enactment separating her state from Canada, but says Albertans person genuine grievances with the national government, and she wants concessions from Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Speaking Wednesday to CTV News Channel, Smith was asked if it wasn't easier to quell separatism by taking it disconnected the table.

Smith responded, "If determination isn't an outlet, it creates a caller party."

Smith cited the precocious popularity of the sovereigntist Parti Québécois in Quebec, saying she doesn't privation to spot that hap successful her location province.

"We've got 30 to 40 per cent of Albertans polled saying that they are dissatisfied with the state to the constituent wherever they would see [separation]," she said. "My occupation is to effort to bring those numbers down."

Her United Conservative Party is the amalgamation of 2 right-wing parties that joined successful 2017 to triumph powerfulness from then-New Democrat premier Rachel Notley successful 2019.

Last week, aft Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney's predetermination win, Smith's authorities introduced a measure that would sharply little the barroom for citizens seeking to trigger provincewide referendums.

That sparked renewed grassroots efforts successful Alberta to stitchery enactment for seceding from the country.

Smith has said she wants to alteration nonstop ideology connected a wide scope of Albertans' concerns and, should determination beryllium capable signatures, has promised to initiate a separation referendum adjacent year.

NDP wellness professional Sarah Hoffman said Thursday unleashing speech of separatism is not bully for the country, for Alberta, oregon for investment.

Of Smith's Wednesday comments, Hoffman said, "That is selfish and it is dangerous."

First Nations Chiefs from crossed Alberta person besides condemned Smith's authorities arsenic good arsenic immoderate proposition of Alberta separation, informing their treaties with the Crown predate the state and Alberta doesn't person the authorization to situation those agreements.

Smith has said her purpose is to compel the Liberals to bring an extremity to national policies that person agelong irritated her province, including by demanding guaranteed lipid and state pipeline entree to tidewater.

Her attack includes sending a negotiating squad to Ottawa, portion astatine the aforesaid clip hosting municipality halls to stitchery feedback from Albertans connected however to get a amended deal.

After gathering with Carney and her provincial counterparts, Smith said successful a connection Wednesday there's an emerging statement among premiers that national regulations request to beryllium cleared distant to let for "nation-building projects" and investment.

"I expect to spot meaningful enactment from Prime Minister Mark Carney and the national authorities to region the restrictive policies and barriers that person landlocked our resources and hampered our system for the past decade," she said.